A new analysis of 444 children and teens newly diagnosed with cancer found that unplanned healthcare visits are common. Over 8 weeks, there were 652 unplanned encounters, including 269 emergency room visits, 143 unplanned clinic visits, and 240 unplanned admissions. Pain was the most frequent reason for ER visits (13.3%) and unplanned clinic visits (11.7%), while nausea and vomiting also played a role.
The study was a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized trial where half the sites used a symptom screening tool. The analysis looked at what factors were linked to more unplanned visits. Children with leukemia and those treated at sites with more physicians per patient had higher rates of unplanned encounters. However, these are associations, not proven causes.
Because this is a secondary analysis, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Not all possible risk factors were measured. The findings suggest that better management of common symptoms like pain and nausea might help reduce unplanned visits, but more research is needed to confirm this.
For families and doctors, this study highlights how often children with cancer need extra care. It points to symptoms that could be targeted to improve quality of life and potentially lower the burden on families and hospitals.